At Blues morning skate, a quick wardrobe change for Zack Bolduc signaled the next stage in his usage in Ƶ.
Bolduc slipped off his white practice jersey, and put on a navy one that matched the other players on the power play. Then Bolduc rotated in on the second Blues unit, alternating reps with Scott Perunovich in the right circle.
It was the first time since his recall Bolduc practiced with the Blues power play, and he did so in his familiar one-timer spot.
“I want to see a guy that’s willing to shoot the puck,” Blues interim coach Drew Bannister said. “I think that’s why he’s there. We have enough passers on that power play. When he goes in there, I’m not looking for him to make plays. I’m looking for him to get the shot off, and he’s got a good release. So I want to see him use that.”
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In his first 13 NHL games, Bolduc totaled 2:50 of ice time on the power play. Of that, 1:33 came in a blowout win over the Islanders on Feb. 22 in his debut. Another 52 seconds came in a blowout loss in Detroit when Bolduc notched his first career goal.
So in the last 11 games, he’s seen just 25 seconds on the man-advantage.
“It’s pretty simple: they want me to shoot the puck,” Bolduc said. “That’s why they put me there, and I’ve got to find a way to bring some pucks to the net and create some chances on the power play.”
Bolduc was one of the most dangerous players from that spot in the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League across the last two seasons, and his 32 power-play goals were second among all QMJHL players in that time.
In the AHL this season, two of his eight goals were on the power play.
“I’m pretty comfortable on that side, but you know it’s another level here, so I’ve got to find a way to find the time and the space to use that one-timer,” Bolduc said.
Bolduc has progressed at 5 on 5 during his month with the Blues, and he entered Tuesday’s game against Colorado with two assists in his last three games. Against Anaheim on Sunday, Bolduc’s forecheck set up Kevin Hayes’ game-tying goal in the second period.
“I think that’s the way that I want to bring some offense into my game, on the forecheck,” Bolduc said. “I’m doing a good job when I’m moving my feet and using my speed. It’s definitely one way I can help the team and create more offense on the forecheck.”
Bolduc said he’s “getting more comfortable every game.”
“The main thing for me is just to hold on to the puck a bit more,” Bolduc said. “I have more time than I think, and I need to use my instinct and play the game, don’t think too much. I think I can do good plays with the puck so I’ve just got to hold on a bit more than what I’m doing right now.”
No Dean still
Blues forward Zach Dean was a healthy scratch again Tuesday night, and the 21-year-old prospect is still waiting to make his NHL debut for Ƶ. Recalled last week when the club was in Boston, Dean has skated in every practice as an extra forward.
With the Blues winning four straight games, Bannister did not want to tinker with the lineup.
“With the day off (Monday), we should be rested and ready to go here,” Bannister said. “The guys have earned the right to be in the lineup again. We’ll monitor that as we move forward, and certainly we’ll want to give Deaner a chance, but the guys have earned the right to be in the lineup here tonight.”
While Dean has been in the NHL, he’s only missed two games that AHL affiliate Springfield has played. Even though he’s not playing in the NHL, Dean is still padding his bank account since his NHL salary ($800,000) is 10 times what he was making in the AHL ($80,000).
Dean was originally a first-round pick by Vegas in 2021 and was traded to the Blues as the return for Ivan Barbashev at the trade deadline last season.